Islam for Non-Muslims
- RELIGIOUS FAITHS VS IRRELIGIOUS IDEAS
- ISLAM AS A RELIGION
- ISLAM AS A WAY OF LIFE
Islamic Rights for Non-Muslim Citizens
Introduction: Islam not only advanced the theory of religious tolerance but also took necessary measures for translating this theory into practice. The earlier Islamic states under the Prophet and his four succeeding ruling Caliphates guaranteed a range of social, political, economic, and other types of rights to the non-Muslim citizens. Now some details about that.
(1) Religious Rights: (i) Freedom to Worship: The early Islamic administrations allowed the non-Muslim minorities their complete freedom to practice own religions. Their religious freedom was protected by the Quran, “Will you then compel mankind to believe against their will? Let there be no compulsion in religion. Let him believe who will and let him who will reject” (10:99; 2:256; 18:29). Obviously, Islam views religion as a matter of heart and mind that can be won over only through persuasion and not by coercion. Islam serves a generic notice against “committing excesses in your religion” which may help the growth of harmonious relations between religious communities. In honor of basic human rights for everyone, the Prophet secured in his Charter of Medina (a confederation type multinational document on human rights) the right of the non-Muslims to practice their own religion without any intervention.
(ii) Cooperation: Islam not only allows the non-Muslims the freedom to worship but also aims to secure a favorable environment for them. You are warned from “scolding” non-Muslim gods, as that is likely to provoke revengeful scolding of Muslim God “out of ill feeling or ignorance” (6:108). Islam does not discourage Muslims from behaving with the innocent non-Muslims. It wants you to “speak to them a word of easy kindness” (17:28) and return their good behavior in the form of embracing, thanking, shaking of hands, exchanging of gifts etc.
(iii) Exemplary Behavior: The Muslims are not allowed to mistreat others only because of their differential religious background. The Prophet showed behavior of exemplary tolerance toward other religious groups. On one occasion, for example, he warmly welcomed a Christian delegate in his mosque and gave them a space to pray under the same roof alongside the Muslims. On another occasion, he pardoned a non-Muslim for his crime of urinating in the mosque.
(2) Social Rights: An Islamic state is obligated to extend all variety of social rights to non-Muslim citizens. They can enjoy protection from general Islamic ruling against unjust murder and illegal occupation of other’s wealth among other crimes. Everyone regardless of religious affiliation is entitled to fair treatment in the Islamic court.
The Quran also issued a specific ruling for a Muslim ruler “to grant asylum if sought by a (non-Muslim) Pagan so that he can hear the message of God and then escort him to a place of safety” (9:6). The Prophet also echoed similar emphasis: “The killer of a Dhimmi (the minorities living in an Islamic state) will not even get the scent of Paradise” (Hadith). The safety of the non-Muslims in an Islamic state enjoys such a high priority that their innocent members cannot be killed in retaliation for any murder of Muslim(s) in a non-Muslim state.
(3) Economic Rights: An Islamic state extends necessary economic security to the non-Muslims. They have property rights in all forms ranging from purchase to consumption to sale etc. Educational facilities and job opportunities are also widely open to them. The Caliphs, particularly Umar, was concerned about his accountability in the Day of Judgment if any of his citizens died of hunger due to his negligence. He therefore made generous stipends to the deserving ones (the poor, the old, the disabled etc.) among the non-Muslims. Such state sponsored economic assistance was additional to optional private Muslim charity available for them. Fair consideration was given to the principle of ‘ability to pay’ in assessing their tax obligation and the collectors were advised on fair collection.
(4) Political Rights: The non-Muslim citizens of an Islamic state are entitled to a range of political rights. In early Islamic administrations, many non-Muslim talents found their doors open to high political positions. The non-Muslims had the opportunity to be ruled by their own laws in their separate court and their own judges were supposed to “judge between them by what God has revealed” (5:49). No laws were to be legislated contrary to their religious faiths. The non-Muslim citizenry not only enjoyed the rights almost at par with their Muslim counterparts, but in some cases they got more. They were, for example, exempted from mandatory ‘zakat’ (charity) and ‘jihad’ (holy war); instead they paid a nominal amount ‘zizia’ toward military expenses.
Conclusion: Given such heavy package of rights, the non-Muslims often preferred to live under Muslim rulers than their own.